"Councilwoman Dillard, can you comment on the arrest of your cousin, Cornell Stokes, at Harlem's Paradise tonight, on charges of police corruption, extortion and murder?"
"I'm an asshole! There's no disputing that. I am a despicable human being. But Cottonmouth is a hell of a lot worse! And I have got what it takes to put him behind bars for the rest of his life!"
After being shot by Cottonmouth, Detective Rafael Scarfe went to Pop's Barber Shop and asked Luke Cage and Claire Temple. Scarfe told Cage about where to find his compromate on Cottonmouth. After Cage found the data, they decided to go to the police headquarters. However, they was chased by Cottomnouth's henchmen. During the chase, their van crashed. Scarfe died on Misty Knight's hands but he gave her all data.[4]
Despite Cottonmouth's best efforts. Rafael Scarfe exposed his organization before dying from his wounds. With his criminal activities down proven, Cottonmouth was arrested by the NYPD while still inside Harlem's Paradise, with Scarfe's own parter Misty Knight putting on the handcuffs and watching as Cottonmouth was escorted out of the building and to jail to await his sentencing for his many crimes including murder.[4]
While Cottonmouth was being held at the 29th Precinct Police Station, his lawyer Benjamin Donovan arrived to defend him. They were confronted by Misty Knight and her superior Priscilla Ridley and Donovan made it clear that there was no evidence presented against Cottonmouth other than Knight and Scarfe's testimonies, both of which could easily be questioned due to one being personally affected by the other's death. Cottonmouth sat down in his car and drove away from the police station as a free man.[1]